My permanent solution to a rusting magazine release button

[chief203]

It cost me $12 and the magazine release button should never rust again. I had the magazine button plated by Cummings Custom Refinishing. (http://www.ccrrefinishing.com/) It came out perfect and the new silver color really contrasts beautifully against the black frame and almost perfectly matches the silver slide. Looks like it should have come this way from Kahr especially with the silver factory trigger.

I contacted Kahr to ask for any solutions or upgrades in relation the rusting magazine button. They related that it used to be polymer but mating against a metal magazine, the buttons were failing after some wear. He related the new metal buttons should be kept oiled to prevent rusting. He sent me two (2) new buttons and advised that I keep them oiled from now on.

I appreciated the buttons but this was going to be an ongoing problem. I appendix carry my CM9 daily. It was only going to be a matter of time. When the buttons arrived I contacted CCR and asked how much it would be to plate just the button with Cera-Plate II. Including return shipping they quoted me $12 because they were having a sale. Without the sale it would have been something like $17. I mailed it out that same day.

It took 4 weeks to get the button back but it was well worth the cost and wait. Pictures below of course. From left to right is rusty, new replacement and Cera-Plated II and at the bottom is the button in the gun. :-)


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/igobuk/IMG_0099.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/igobuk/IMG_0101.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/igobuk/IMG_0111.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/igobuk/IMG_0120.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c97/igobuk/IMG_0121.jpg

[GEARHEAD_ENG]

Looks great.. I think mine is polymer. I may contact Kahr about getting the "improved" steel version.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[wyntrout]

Nice fix, Chief'. I thought most of the parts were stainless and have never had any rust problems, but you have to take the initiative sometimes to get things to work without problems.

Welcome to the forum. We try to help anyone with problems and share our "fixes" or experiences as you have, and pictures, especially good ones, are really appreciated!

Wynn:)

[berettabone]

Never heard of such a thing.............how did it rust in the first place?????????????????

[wyntrout]

Some people's body chemistry can rust or corrode even stainless steel.

Wynn:)

[Birdog]

Good fix.

[TucsonMTB]

A very elegant solution. Thank you for the link, sir.

Admittedly, I currently get by with a little black Rust-Oleum about once a year, but if I win a lottery Imma gonna do this too. ;)

[chief203]

The button rusted just from it coming in contact with me. I guess I must be salty. The button isn't stainless, it's steel coated with a light finish to make it black.

My friend also has a CM9 and his hasn't rusted but he doesn't carry it everyday. A similar rusting effect was happening to the slide of my Kel-Tec P3AT. I was gonna plate that too but I haven't decided if it's worth spending $70 bucks on it. I never use it anymore since I got my CM9 and $70 bucks on a P3AT is a lot.

Anyway, glad you guys liked the photos. Hopefully this helps someone out that may be having the same rust issue I was having.

[CRF8]

just spoke with tech line and then sales customer service, wasn't impressed with either.
I asked to buy a magazine release button because mine got rusty. They said they have never had to replace one of those, and I must not be doing routine cleaning. I mentioned others with the same issue on the forum, they wont even acknowledge this place exists. They said they would get back to me but they never even asked for my phone number.


Also, their website shows a 9-7 magazine as fitting my PM9, which it hangs out the bottom without the plastic fingergrip. I am a very literal person, when the website says it fits, then it should fit, esthetically as well as functionally. They said the website doesn't say it fits, but it does, heres a cut & paste from their website:


http://www.kahr.com/GetDynamicImage.aspx?path=K9-Magazine-7-Rd749.jpg&w=65&h=48 (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:void(0);)



7 Round 9mm Magazine "K820"

7 rounds, 9 mm, stainless steel. Fits all Kahr 9 mm models except TP9 & T9.

[wyntrout]

They don't say that it fits flush. Any mag that will engage the catch and function "fits". Shorter mags won't "fit".

I use the flushest-fitting mags in my Kahrs for CCW, but use the largest capacity ones for reload carry and at the range. I also replace the polymer bases with metal ones where I can for a flusher fit and more concealability.

My post on 9mm mags:

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=2944&highlight=K920G+springs

http://www.kahrtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2200&stc=1&d=1281383560

Wynn:)

[Scott321]

It cost me $12 and the magazine release button should never rust again. I had the magazine button plated by Cummings Custom Refinishing. (http://www.ccrrefinishing.com/) It came out perfect and the new silver color really contrasts beautifully against the black frame and almost perfectly matches the silver slide. Looks like it should have come this way from Kahr especially with the silver factory trigger.
...



Any updates on how well their coating lasted? I ordered two new mag release buttons for my daily carry's (CW45 and PM45... not at the same time) because they were starting to rust (summertime AIWB carry, working outside in 90+ degree humid weather). I could reblue them, but thought your suggestion might be more resiliant.

The most siginificant area of rust for me is the serrated section your thumb presses to release the magazine. For now I just let oil sit on it for a few minutes and wipe away most of it once per week.

[Scott321]

Update: I contacted Cummings Custom Refinishing and they said they would still do magazine catches and suggested the CPII plating. I downloaded the form from their website and sent in two magazine catches and a little over $50 for the service + return postage (hopefully I calculated the total correctly; the form said TN sales tax was mandatory). They estimated that it would take about 3 weeks. I will update the thread when they come back and I install them.

[gb6491]

Update: I contacted Cummings Custom Refinishing and they said they would still do magazine catches and suggested the CPII plating. I downloaded the form from their website and sent in two magazine catches and a little over $50 for the service + return postage (hopefully I calculated the total correctly; the form said TN sales tax was mandatory). They estimated that it would take about 3 weeks. I will update the thread when they come back and I install them.
Thanks!:)

[Scott321]

Update 9/17/2020: I received the two magazine catch buttons back from Cummings on Thursday, Sep 17th. I mailed them out within a day or so of my last post (#12). They look good. I took pics for the install on my PM45. I will do my CW45 within the next few days.

I used a small flathead screwdriver to move the spring when taking the catch out. However, I made a loop with dental floss to hold the spring open when reinstalling - Pic 2 (kept tension with the screwdriver).

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